Perspective is the eyes in the back of your head!

I firmly believe that having perspective is arguably the most important attribute anyone can have. The ability to stand back, to stop to think, and to look at things from another angle or to prevent situations from becoming something more than they are or need to be, is a skill, a quality, an attribute that we are deeply missing from common discourse . We are in danger of judging all that we see in front of us in accordance with our feelings and emotions in a given moment, and on the basis of how we perceive or believe things to be without any real critique of our interpretation.

I believe our capacity to make good, well-informed, thoughtful and rational decisions has become seriously impaired in recent years. The idea of logic and rationalism is giving way a new form of populism in that if someone feels it then it must be true. And because no-one likes to question or critique a person’s feelings as to do so is viewed as being insensitive or unkind; and with that comes isolation and exclusion that inevitably follows, and who wants to go ‘out on a limb’ so to speak?

Therefore, we end up becoming a self-perpetuating cycle where we comfort people and reaffirm their story as the true narrative or interpretation, and perhaps the only story there is, which can oft be skewed in a particular direction of travel, without anyone stopping for even a moment to ascertain, is that actually how it is or how it was? Nope we all become part of the story because everybody loves a good story that we can become part of and say we were right, we did our bit when necessary, and how dare they, or he or she, behave in such a manner in the first place.

Then all sorts of demands are made. Inevitably, those in positions of power get in on the act, and we end up with ill thought-out policies, strategies and laws until something happens that calls into question all that had went before. Recriminations begin, investigations are held, and we all realise that the foundation on which those decisions were reached was without foundation.

An inquiry follows, no-one in particular is held accountable but there was ‘collective failure.’ We all wash our hands of it, and agree to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and even those who were part of the change in the first place, whilst wearing a different hat, stand on a different platform and vow to ensure it doesn’t happen again and then they are tasked with ensuring that exactly that.

If only someone had at least a little bit of perspective at the outset - right? Everyone has a different perspective, or at least slightly nuanced views on a range of topics and I’ve always very much enjoyed listening to a whole range of opinions on many topics.

If we all shared the same views then we’d pretty much learn very little. Thus, I enjoy listening to what people have to say and trying to understand why they think this or that, what might have led them to that idea or conclusion but all too often it tends to be opinion that merely echoes that of others or is more times than not simply made up on the spot.

I view perspective in two ways mainly – the ability to put things in context and reach conclusions based on what is known rather than what is suspected or supposed, and secondly, to offer a view that is distinctly different, something that might not have been considered before in attempting to get to the truth.

I believe that many have lost the ability to do either, if they ever had the ability in the first place, choosing to rationalise their views based on feelings, or gut instinct, which of course it has to be said can be right. Even if your feelings are correct or gut-instinct proves to be true, might it not be better to try to uncover the truth first through a rational approach?

The ability to take time to think things through, or to step back and deliberate is vital in an era where there is 24-hour rolling news. Where most news is now consumed through Social Media, rather than commentary from respected journalists who have plied their trade for years, commentary comes in the form of flippant comments from those ill-equipped or the least-best qualified to offer an impartial or thorough analysis. Your grandfather who suspects everything is a conspiracy or your aunt who heard from a ‘good source’ are hardly the kinds of perspective you need if you want to draw your own conclusions about anything.

Those who control the digital world, i.e., Google, Facebook, and Apple among others have greater levels of trust than traditional institutions, e.g., politics, banks, media, church. This should tell us something about the world we live in.

Young people are more political now than in previous generations but not necessarily in the traditional forms of politics we have become accustomed too. Anorexia is only (realistically) prevalent in Western societies whilst new technologies that we embrace are designed to favour the companies that produce them rather than us, the very recipients of new technologies. Poor people are more included to back populist leaders – research has shown that it’s not just a stereotype.

In evolutionary terms, we - that is you and me, and the rest of humanity, are unique. In the context of the universe however, or multiverse even for that matter, we are not that special. We now know that more than two hours of screen time per day increases the likelihood of depression.

Kids are growing up at a slower rate than their parents and grandparents whilst the wealthy are much more like each other than we could possibly imagine. An entire industry of people exist to liberate you of your money without you even realising it and those ‘on the left’ have failed to articulate a new vision of society beyond one of protest and opposition.

The need for perspective is crucial and the only way to achieve it is to be open to what others have to say but of course not readily accepting it Trump-style ‘bigly’ without the mildest bit of critical thinking.

Perspective is the eyes in the back of your head!